MADRID, 20 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Council of Ministers has approved this Tuesday the series of commitments that the Government will assume in the event that Spain is designated as the venue for the Ryder Cup in 2031, of which Catalonia, with the Costa Brava-Barcelona candidacy, would be the host.
These commitments are aimed at “guaranteeing the success and proper organization of this prestigious sporting event”, the largest team golf competition, which generates “great media interest and attracts visitors, which benefits the host country in terms of sport, tourist and economic”.
The Government will guarantee, among other things, the participation of the players, will facilitate the necessary visas and authorizations and will provide efficient transport infrastructures during the celebration of the Ryder Cup 2031.
Within the framework of this commitment, it is also contemplated to “facilitate all the necessary means to guarantee a safe and peaceful development” of the tournament and guarantees “the promotion of golf in Spain during the seven years before and five years after the event”. The Government also undertakes to try to declare the tournament an “event of exceptional public interest” and to guarantee the holding of tournaments associated with the event.
In this sense, the Council of Ministers has authorized the president of the Higher Sports Council (CSD) to sign the necessary agreements on behalf of the Government of Spain to comply with the commitments derived from the designation of Spain as the venue for the Ryder Cup 2031.
These commitments, which will be financed within the existing budget without increasing public spending, were proposed by twelve Ministries: Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation; Treasury and Public Function; Inside; Transport, Mobility and the Urban Agenda; Work and Social Economy; Industry, Commerce and Tourism; Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Democratic Memory; Land Policy; Culture and Sport; Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation; Health; Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations.
With this agreement, the Spanish Government “shows its support for sport and its interest in taking advantage of the tourist and economic benefits of this prestigious sporting event.” “The organization of this event makes an outstanding and effective contribution to the promotion of sport in general and golf in particular”, highlights the Executive, who points out that golf is “a specific motivation for making a trip to Spain” and that each year “1.2 million tourists” visit the country to practice it.
“The celebration of the Ryder Cup at the Valderrama Golf Club in 1997 already had very positive economic effects for this course and for the Gibraltar course as a whole. By receiving thousands of visitors, the Ryder Cup enables a present and future economic return that makes the required investment sustainable and profitable”, he recalls.
Spain, in this case the Finca Cortesín course in Málaga, will host this year the new edition of the Solheim Cup, the women’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup and which will be held from September 22 to 24.